Clearview council has approved an Official Plan Amendment (OPA) allowing plans for the development of the Clearview Aviation Commerce Centre to proceed to the next step.
The amendment changes the designation on four properties adjacent to the Collingwood Regional Airport, located in Clearview Township, from agricultural to a special policy employment area serving the existing airport use. The lands are within a special policy area designated for such a use. Even with the amendment, a rezoning is still required.
“We are very pleased to get through this stage,” said project coordinator Paul Bonwick, adding it is the first of three steps in getting to final approval. “It’s a critical piece.”
A special council meeting was held July 10 to hold a vote on the amendment, which passed unanimously.
Clearview CAO Steve Sage said there are important timelines associated with the project and staff made a commitment one year ago to be mindful of timing. Now that it has been approved, the application moves to the County of Simcoe for final approval. A public meeting was held in March.
“Due to the timing constraints of both Clearview and Simcoe County council the applicant and Clearview staff have made completing the attached OPA a high priority,” reported Sage. “The file has been moving through the necessary processes for a period of more than six months and as indicated within the Planning Act, six months should be sufficient time to process the file.”
Sage is signing off on the application after manager of planning Ray Kelso left the township under circumstance not disclosed to the public. Sage said it is his opinion and that of the planning staff that the development should go forward, keeping in mind there are many items that still need to be addressed through the rezoning process.
Mayor Chris Vanderkruys said he supports the amendment.
“We want to stress the idea that we are open for business. We have to change what we have, for business to move forward,” he said.
As stated in the OPA, permitted uses are limited to industrial and commercial uses that are directly supportive and related to the adjacent Collingwood Regional Airport business and operations including, for example aircraft sales and service, manufacturing, maintenance, shipping, storage, research establishments, commercial flight schools, including associated short-term accommodation, business offices and small-scale accessory uses.
At the public meeting in March, landowners Remo Niceforo and Tony Bellissimo outlined their plans to develop a world-class commerce centre on about 300 acres that would result in more than $1.2 million in tax revenue for Clearview and 400 jobs.
Councillors were in support of proceeding with the amendment and expressed interest in getting down to the details about what businesses may locate there.
“The concern is ensuring there is definition between this project and the industrial lands project,” said Councillor Shawn Davidson adding that the uses should not compete too severely with the other development. “I am fully in support of the OPA and I hope the county will approve it so we can get to the details and get to the heart of the development…”
He said the development could have a great impact on the entire region.
After the meeting, Bonwick said in an ideal world there is hope of attracting one, two or three large aviation businesses as anchors and many ancillary operations. He said if they a attract a Bombardier type of business, they would get into “serious employment”.